Thornton Named Keeper Of The Year

It seems like the clock had been turned back to 1998 this year as a revival for Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton took place. It was just 11 seasons ago that Thornton won his first keeper of the year, now he has two as the league announced today that he was named the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.

Thornton took home my vote and plenty others from the rest of the media thanks to his lean-mean goals-against average of 0.87 (the second-lowest in league history). He also allowed just 23 goals in 27 games and has amassed 12 shutouts. Not bad considering he was nearly dead in the water in some folks eyes just a year ago.

Thornton took over toward the end of last year when he came over from New York to replace the departed Brad Guzan. Most people figured Chivas was in big danger this year of falling off the wagon with Thornton in goal but in the offseason Big Zach became a much leaner and healthier Zach, which saw his production go way up.